5 Reasons I Love Being a Military Spouse

1. Mandatory Adventure If you had told me 5 years ago that I would start a military non-profit, get married, move to California and make Military Spouse of the Year for Camp Pendleton I would have laughed at you. Me get married? Leave my decade plus career? Move from DC? Please, not this girl and absolutely not for some guy and never a Marine, no military life for me! My grandpas were all in the military and I thought, how the heck did my grandmothers do it? Well it's funny what God packages the love of your life in; for some of us it's in dress blues. 2. Spouse Pride The truth is I love this life. I also love everyone in it and I couldn't imagine my life any way else. What I didn't realize in the beginning when I met my husband was how much I love change. By the time I was 30 years old I had already moved 27 times, I just did it with more than 90 days notice from someone else. The military life came surprisingly natural to me and so did branching off on my own and not working for an employer anymore while using all the skills I had learned over my career to implement them into my own company. Yes, it takes budgeting, I coupon, I consult on the side but we have a more comfortable way of life now than when he swooped me up unexpectedly. Our quality of life is much better, we are happier, we are driven and we get to focus on goals we would not have had the chance to in DC. 3. Helpful Chain of command I am thankful for my husband's chain of command as I have had a lot of health issues these past 2 years here in California and they have supported me every step of the way. What other employer does that? (Might not be the case for all of us, but in my experience) What other employer takes a genuine interest in how your wife is doing? I know I never asked for any sort of consideration, they simply checked in to ensure I was OK, gave time off work for him to be with me, sent letters of thanks for supporting him, they are amazing. 4. Unexpected Community I love California. I never thought I could ever be a California girl and yet when I got here it felt as if I had been separated at birth from here. How else would I have had the chance to get to know that if it hadn't been for the Marine Corps? I was also privileged enough to become Mrs. Los Angeles America in 2014 and meet some of the most amazing women outside of the military community. I have partnered with companies like Uber, PCS Grades, Heroes Vodka, Hilton, Rent the Runway and many more due to this life. All to ensure military lives can be the best journey they can be and just try to add to the already awesome programs available to our community. 5. Unlimited opportunities to do more I mean we have done some pretty cool stuff at our non-profit; tour of the White House, tours of the Commandant's home, Price is Right for military appreciation day, laid wreaths on our fallen across the country, national free hugs day, care packages for families holding down the home front over the holidays. We love to take care of each other and there are few communities in the world that work so hard to do so and if my crazy husband had not come up to me while enjoying a cocktail, hating all things men, I wouldn't be sitting here writing this to you now. Connect with us on Facebook!

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